9 Things Writers Don’t Talk About

We have trouble writing.
Even though it’s the thing we love to do the most, it’s also really, really hard to do it at all.

We think really weird thoughts.
At any given moment our brain could be filled with a circus run by evil mermaids, or a fast-talking salesman who also happens to be a pigeon wearing a top hat paired with an evening dress. That’s just the way we roll.

Our self-esteem rides the rollercoaster.
We love books, that’s why we’re writers. But every book that we read, we compare to our own writing. Sometimes this makes us feel awesome. Other times, we end up wanting to open a vein.

We hide our nervous tics.
Sometimes we pace around when we’re thinking through ideas or we talk out loud to ourselves. I actually pace and talk to myself, and snap my fingers compulsively when I really get into the creative flow. If you’ve ever done this sort of thing in front of a non-writer, you already know the funny looks you’re going to get.

We also hide our obsessive side.
When writers become fascinated by something it kind of takes over our life. We will read every book in a series, even if it’s 20 books long. We will research every detail of our current obsession until everyone around us is sick of it. And of course, we all have our own little rituals when it comes to actually writing…

We are INTENSE.
Sometimes we get so excited about ideas that our eyes blaze, our hands tremble, and our speech is set to “rapid-fire”. We can’t help it, our intensity is part of us. But for most of our lives we’ve been told to tone it down. We don’t mean to be too much. We just get really, really excited sometimes.

We are sensitive.
We care deeply about our stories. Our characters are real people to us and we love them, even if we hate them. We talk about cultivating a thick skin and learning to take criticism, but inside, we can be bruised very, very easily. And we are good at hiding our bruises.

We find most of average-daily-life totally boring.
That’s why it’s so delicious to jump into the fun of J.K. Rowling’s world, or the darkness of H.P. Lovecraft’s. The shit that goes on in imaginary worlds is actually INTERESTING. If there were no aliens, unicorns, secret agents, Prince Charming, or talking animals to discover then life just wouldn’t be worth living.

Secretly, each of us plans to be the next Stephen King.
We might pass our writing off as a “hobby” or tell people we’re only doing it “on the side” but every one of us daydreams of publishing our work, getting our books out there, and becoming a household name. Even if we don’t share our dreams with just anyone who comes along, part of being a writer is dreaming big. It comes with the territory.

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I’m a writer and a writing coach. This blog is meant to nourish, heal, spark, and empower your creative flame. If you’re interested in improving your writing, and building your confidence as a writer, I can help you.